Free Republic

Clarification: “Way Too Funny” in my previous post referred to the Timothy Treadwell picture and caption: “This guy’s brother?”

I formerly owned and operated a 65 foot live aboard dive boat out of Palm Beach. I ran diving charters to the same areas as the Shearwater and I used to Captain that boat as well, prior to Jim Abernathy’s ownership. I have been on many, many shark dives and have been pursued by aggressive sharks frequently. It can easily happen when you add spearfishing or chum and bait to the equation. Of all the shark species, none is more aggressive than the Bull Shark. Discovery Channel correctly reported it on the list of the top ten most dangerous sharks as number 1. The only other shark that comes close is the Great White and people just don’t spend as much time in their enviornment as they do with the Bull Sharks of temperate waters.
As I indicated, I think Captain Abernathy is a highly experienced operator, and this is certainly a regretable tragedy, but setting up shark dive sites all over the Bahamas is not in the best interest of divers or sharks.

Way too funny.

I was formerly a partner with Jim as a Captain and dive boat operator in the late 1980s. Belive me when I tell you he does feed and dive with Tigers, Hammerheads, and Bull Sharks. The Discovery Channel Shark week had an excellent special showing him bringing in many large Tiger Sharks to dive with his guests at NIGHT!!
He has been doing this for over 20 years and does an excellent job reading sharks, however, he has been biten himself. Just last month one of his customers had a Tiger shark swim off with his dive camera in it’s mouth (which the owner used to fend off the shark).
The shark that bit this guy is the most dangerous shark that frequents Bahamian waters in my opinion. Bull sharks are much more aggressive than Hammerheads or even Tigers. Of course if a Tiger decides to bite, it will create truama similar to a Great White bite.
While Captain Abernathy is an expert at what he does, I still think it is a mistake to feed sharks. It is hard to resist when so many people are willing to pay for the experience. The problem is that sharks will congregate in the feeding areas, rather than naturally speading out keeping the reefs healthy. There is also the danger of the sharks becomming too used to human contact and becomming aggressive. Other boats go to and dive in the same areas and don’t have expert guides to brief them on safety procedures. It is a dangerous practice for the diving community as a whole and is unhealthy for the sharks.